Kannappa Shines at Box Office with ₹9 Crore Day 1 Collection
In what marks a career-defining moment for actor Vishnu Manchu, his ambitious mythological spectacle Kannappa opened to a thunderous response at the domestic box office, collecting an impressive Rs 9 crore on its first day across India.
The film, steeped in devotion and grandeur, benefited immensely from its high-profile ensemble and solid regional turnout, earning the biggest opening of Vishnu Manchu’s career.
Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa is a visually opulent retelling of the legendary devotee of Lord Shiva — a tale rooted in faith, sacrifice, and celestial drama. Despite receiving mixed critical reviews, the film has struck a chord with its core audience.
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According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the Telugu version of the film led the charge with an overall occupancy rate of 55.89% on Friday. Morning shows began with a healthy 50.55%, gradually building momentum as the day progressed, peaking at a strong 69.87% during night screenings. The cities of Hyderabad and Bengaluru emerged as key contributors, reporting the highest number of shows and packed halls.
While the Telugu belt formed the backbone of its earnings, Kannappa also registered a modest footprint in other linguistic markets. The Tamil version reportedly recorded an occupancy of 6.45%, led by decent viewership in Chennai.
According to the reports, the Hindi-dubbed version showed early promise in metro cities, with Delhi performing best and pushing Hindi occupancy to 14.56%. The Kannada and Malayalam versions drew in more limited but notable numbers at 13.81% and 7.20%, respectively.
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A key factor in the film’s wide appeal is its star-studded ensemble. Cameo appearances by pan-Indian heavyweights Prabhas, Akshay Kumar, and Mohanlal significantly amplified pre-release buzz.
Their presence alongside Vishnu Manchu has drawn fans from across demographics, helping the film transcend linguistic boundaries. Also starring Kajal Aggarwal, the film’s ensemble adds layers of marquee value to its mythological narrative.
Produced on a reported budget of Rs 200 crore, Kannappa was always envisioned as a grand theatrical experience, designed to appeal to devotees of Lord Shiva and fans of large-scale, emotionally-driven storytelling.
Despite its box office success, Kannappa has not been universally embraced by critics, many of whom found the runtime bloated and the storytelling uneven.
All eyes are now on how Kannappa performs over its opening weekend as the film faces stiff competition from Sitaare Zameen Par, which continues its steady run, and the Hollywood juggernaut F1: The Movie, headlined by Brad Pitt.
